– Euro 2012 Player quotes

Iker Casillas -

Your last game is against Croatia, how do you feel ahead of this game?

Our last game in our group is against Croatia and I expect this to be a very good game – it could well decide the group winners. They’ve got good attacking players like Modric and Rakitic and they play a similar style of football to us. I expect it to be very open with lots of chances for both teams and I hope we can come out on top.

Who are the teams and players to look out for at Euro 2012?

At Euro 2012 I think Germany will be a really strong team, they’ve got a good balanced side and played very well at the World Cup. Holland as well, runners up at the last World Cup, are a really good team. When they beat Brazil in 2010 they took a big step forward. However there are also teams like France, England and Portugal to watch out for.

Take us back and tell us how it felt when you won the 2008 Euros and 2010 World Cup?

I felt more intense emotions and joy at the 2008 Euros. It was my first major title with the Spanish national team and that’s when I fulfilled my childhood dream. The World Cup is the biggest tournament you can win on the national stage and it’s the dream for anyone who likes football – luckily I managed to make two dreams come true in two years! The two tournaments will always be very closely linked in my mind will always be the most special to me.

Daniele De Rossi - Italy

Your last game is against Ireland, can you tell us how you feel ahead of this crucial game?

The last game is one we must win. Ireland has a fairly Italian mentality since Trapattoni is the manager; we are going to have to be very careful against them because there we cannot afford to make any mistakes. Trapattoni knows everything about Italian football and knows the players – he’ll be at a real advantage compared to the managers of other national teams who do not know us so well. We know we need a result but Ireland will be keen to make the most the of their final game so we need to be at our best.

Italy has few emerging young talents, such as Balotelli, who is always being talked about, and Borini, your team mate at Roma. How do you help these players with your experience and what do you say to them?

I think that these young players, like Balotelli and Borini, are improving, they are doing well and they have a good chance of making a mark on the tournament. Of course it will be the job of the older and more experienced players to help them during the tournament, but these two youngsters have the character to do well on their own.

Which are the teams to be feared at the tournament and which players do you think will play a starring role at the Euros?

Well I think that the teams to be feared the most at the European Championships are the usual teams: Spain, England, Italy, France, Germany, I guess that a dark horse could emerge, but if you add Holland to this group then these are certainly the teams that could go on and win the Euros. As for the players, again I think that it will be the usual players rather than someone coming through for the first time. Players such as and Iniesta from Spain, Rooney from England, , Robben, those kinds of players.